Dir. David R. Ellis, , US, 2006,105 mins
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Nathan Phillips
Review by Julia Smith
The film begins on the tranquil shores of Hawaii where young surfer, Sean (Nathan Phillips), is riding his Kawasaki motorcycle up through the hills. On a break to enjoy the scenery he happens upon a gruesome scene. The notorious mobster, Eddie Kim, kills a Los Angeles prosecutor, and Sean is the only witness. Kim’s heavies are soon on Sean’s tail, but are quickly thwarted by FBI Agent Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson), who convinces Sean to become a witness in a case against the mobster. But first he must get Sean to Los Angeles, and unlucky for them the plane is equipped with an explosive device which will blow open a crate of poisonous snakes.
The popularity of Snakes On A Plane began back in 2004 when word got out that Samuel L. Jackson signed up to the film on the basis of the title. Following this there was a mass of internet chatter, where movie fans (also intrigued by the film’s title) began to discuss the film’s possible storylines. By taking advice from these potential fans, Snakes On A Plane was moulded to appeal to the movie-going audience. This was the production’s greatest success. It is clear from the moment that Flynn escorts Sean onto the plane that the filmmakers are playing to the audience’s expectations. Every passenger onboard fits what is primarily a horror stereotype. There is the gruff business man, the honeymooners, the single mother, the list goes on. And you can’t help but try to work who will be the first to go, and how? Snakes On A Plane actually entertains by conforming to the rules instead of breaking them. As in classic horrors such as Halloween and Friday The 13th, the audience is entertained by the fact that the immoral will meet a gruesome end.
Complementing the typical movie stereotypes of Snakes On A Plane is it’s unlikely narrative flow. In most action movies there are always moments to ponder sadness, tension or horror, moments which can be tedious. However, in the case of this movie the action is all too fast for the boredom factor. Constantly blinding us with unexpected scenes, we are never watching just one character, we are watching them all. And by marrying action and comedy the film manages to convey an ‘over the top’ Hollywood movie without ever making you laugh at it, but instead you laugh with it.
What is particularly interesting, and is possibly one of the filmmakers greatest triumphs on this film, is the casting. Using a plethora of familiar faces, you are quickly drawn into the narrative. Kenan Thompson (Good Burger) is in particularly good comic form, as is Rachel Blanchard (known for her TV version of Clueless) and Todd Louiso (Dick from High Fidelity). Relative unknowns also have their moments, with Bruce James as the camp flight attendant and Flex Alexander as the germ-phobic rapper. It is also good to see the talented, but frequently overlooked, Bobby Cannavale (Happy Endings) as Agent Flynn’s support on the ground.
In all actuality it is Samuel L. Jackson who brings the movie home. Supporting the film from the outset of production you really feel as though Jackson enjoyed making Snakes On A Plane. A self-confessed movie star and fan of his own work, Jackson is not self-conscious about what he does. He doesn’t want to play Hamlet, what he does want to do is entertain, and this he does incredibly well. Like Jackson himself, this film succeeds because it’s not trying to impress you, it’s not trying to make you think, but it is trying to entertain you. And if it has to be one long cliché to do this, then that it will be. Snakes on a Plane delivers incredible entertainment because it obeys every stupid Hollywood rule in the movie making handbook, and is all the better for it.
Entertainment in Video have announced the UK Region
2 DVD release of Snakes on a Plane for 26th December
2006.
Extras include:
- Commentary from star Samuel L. Jackson, Director David
R. Ellis, Producer Craig Berenson, Associate Producer Tawny
Ellis, VFX Supervisor Eric Henry, Stunt Co-ordinator and
Second Unit Director Freddie Hice
- Deleted Scenes with optional commentary from Director
David R. Ellis, Producer Craig Berenson and Associate Producer
Tawny Ellis
- ”Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)” – Cobra
Starship with The Academy Is…, Gym Class Heroes
and The Sounds music video
- Gag Reel
- ”Pure Venom” – Behind
the Scenes Documentary
- ”Snakes on a Blog” – featurette documenting
the film’s fan-based buzz
- ”Meet the Reptiles” – featurettes
about the snakes featured in the film
- VFX Featurette
- Teaser Trailer
- Theatrical Trailer “Unleashed”
- Theatrical Trailer “Phobia”
- TV Spots
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